Different Vexillum

[jbd_29349]

I know that the legion carried its own vex to identify the legion but what about each cohort and century? If so what would the flag have on it?

For example, would the second century of the third cohort of the sixth legion have the Legio VI, legio symbol, cohort III, century II?

[Matthew Amt]

As I understand it, the vexillum was used for any detachment of a legion. The legion itself had the eagle standard, and every century had a signum. So if three cohorts were sent off on some mission, a vexillum would be carried to denote the legion, and all the centurial signa of those units would come along, too.

In a case like that, my guess is that the vexillum had only the legion number and name on it. In artwork, many vexilla are shown blank, and presumably had their details painted in, while the rest have only lettering. No zodiac symbols or any other pictures are shown. BUT on the only known surviving vexillum, there is only a figure of Victory on a globe, with no lettering at all! So there's room for some speculation, it seems.

Remember that centuries were not numbered. They were identified by their centurion's name, or by their position in the cohort: hastatus prior/posterior, princeps prior/posterior, or pilus prior/posterior. Cohorts were numbered, but don't seem to have had any standard of their own.

Vale,

Matthew